Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies
Volume: 4 – Issue: 4 – October - 2014
Organ Donation Posters: Developing Persuasive Messages
Yu-Hung Chien, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Abstract
Posters are a general form of mass media that have often been used by organ procurement
organizations to promote organ donation; however, to date, there are no studies discussing the
procurement efficacy of organ donation posters. The present study collected organ donation
posters, analyzed their categories, and discussed the persuasive power of their graphic and
text contents using the message-framing theory. Fifty-three professionally designed posters
from 15 countries were selected from 2,000-plus organ donation-related websites. The posters
were classified into instructional, educational, evidential, and charitable categories, and the
methods and contents of their framed messages were analyzed. Results of this study showed
that the posters seldom reflected knowledge about effective ways to frame their messages.
Most of the posters only directly and plainly presented, but did not promote, donation
messages to the audience. Only some of the posters used promotional strategies such as
designing the graphics and text specifically for different populations, displaying celebrity
endorsements, providing knowledge and statistical data, dispelling myths, using narrative
stories, presenting successful transplantation cases, or emphasizing the well-being of others
or public welfare. If the above strategies could be combined with gain-framed messages,
these posters would be more persuasive. Suggestions for gain-framed message are offered,
but these recommendations must be tested empirically.
Keywords: Framing message, Organ donation, Persuasion, Posters
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Introduction
Posters are a general form of mass media that have often been used by organ procurement
organizations in many countries to promote organ donations. Studies have indicated that the
frequency of the appearance of organ donation information is positively correlated with the
number of organ donors (Stefanone et al., 2012); however, this correlation is not statistically
significant (Conesa et al., 2004), suggesting that in order to be significantly persuasive, the
graphic and text contents must be based on established theory or research (Jenner et al., 2005).
The message-framing theory is an important theory related to persuasive powers (Kahneman
and Tversky, 1979), stating that presenting the same question with the same logic and intent
but using different approaches can persuade people to make different decisions. The
gain-framed message positively emphasizes the benefits that could be gained or the
disadvantages that could be prevented by taking certain actions; by contrast, the loss-framed
message negatively emphasizes the disadvantages that could occur by taking certain actions
or the losses that could ensue by not taking other actions.
Tversky and Kahneman (1979) further elucidated the relationship between message framing
and decision making. They devised a hypothetical situation in which a certain country was
experiencing a disease outbreak, and it was predicted that 600 people would die. Scientists
proposed two schemes: adopting Scheme A could save 200 people, while adopting Scheme B
could have a 1/3 chance to save 600 people and a 2/3 chance that nobody would be saved.
The data revealed that 72% of the subjects chose Scheme A, and 28% of the subjects chose
Scheme B. Using the same hypothetical scenario, the scientists proposed another two
schemes: if Scheme C were adopted, then 400 people would die, whereas if Scheme D were
adopted, then there was a 1/3 chance that nobody would die and a 2/3 chance that 600 people
would die. The results showed that 78% of the subjects chose Scheme D, and only 22% of the
subjects chose Scheme C. The abovementioned example revealed that the participants were
affected by the frames; therefore, they made different choices in response to the different
positive and negative presentation methods for the same solution scheme.
Studies suggest that, to promote health care behaviors, gain-framed messages should be used
for protection behaviors, such as promotion of the use of sunscreen products to avoid skin
cancer (Detweiler et al., 1999). Conversely, loss-framed messages should be used for
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detection behaviors; for example, although a high level of uncertainty exists for finding
lumps on a breast X-ray, receiving this examination can avoid further risk to health (Goodall
and Appiah, 2008). Most studies suggest that gain-framed messages should be used for organ
procurement, emphasizing the benefits accrued by organ donation in order to increase the
willingness of potential donors (Purewal and van den Akker, 2009; Reinhart et al., 2007;
Rothman and Salovey, 1997). The purpose of the present study was to collect organ donation
posters from various countries, to analyze whether the posters used frame messages, and to
determine which frame methods were used. Moreover, the poster categories were also
examined. Consequently, the results of this study could provide design guidelines for
producing highly persuasive posters for organ procurement organizations.
Method
Samples
Using the Google and Yahoo search engines with Chinese and English key words such as
―organ,‖ ―donation,‖ and ―posters,‖ the links of more than 2,000 organ procurement websites,
blogs, and images were searched via different combinations. After amateur poster designs,
graphic files that could not be clearly read, and text content that could not be translated by the
researchers were excluded, nearly 200 posters produced by professional design units at the
request of government agencies or procurement organizations in 15 countries (US, Australia,
UK, Pakistan, Japan, Taiwan, etc.) were collected. Ultimately, 53 posters were used as study
subjects in this investigation.
Data Analysis
The poster analysis included a message-framing analysis and a category analysis. The
message-framing analysis was used to determine whether the 53 posters used
message-framing strategies and whether they used gain-framed messages or loss-framed
messages. In the category analysis, analysts proposed category suggestions based on the
graphic and text content of these posters. As each category was suggested, a file was created,
and all of the posters relevant to that category were filed under it and coded accordingly. The
created categories were designed to be exhaustive and mutually exclusive at the same level of
analysis (Atkins, 1984; Jenner et al., 2005). Finally, the posters were divided into four
categories: instructional, educational, evidential, and charitable. The instructional posters
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simply requested that the viewers agree to organ donation and fill out a donor card. The
educational posters provided general information regarding organ donation. The evidential
posters presented clinical cases and stories of successful organ transplantation. The charitable
posters attempted to heighten the viewer’s altruistic and moral senses by various strategies.
The two analysts included one of the authors (who had published papers regarding the use of
message framing on promoting publish health) and one graphic designer (who has six years
of design practice and had experience designing posters promoting organ donations and
vaccinations). The analysts independently examined the framed message content of the
posters and categorized the posters. The determinations of these analysts regarding whether
the posters used framed messages were completely consistent. During the poster
categorization, the analysts’ opinions were consistent for 83% (44/53) of the posters. Nine
posters yielded different opinions because they presented multiple-category information; after
being discussed by two judges, these posters were classified into categories that were more
appropriate.
Results and Discussion
Message Framing
Of the 53 posters, 39 were written in English, 10 were written in Chinese, two were written in
German, one was written in Hebrew, and one was written in French. The message-framing
analysis of these 53 posters is depicted in Table 1.
Table 1 Method of framing the messages (N = 53)
Gain-framed messages, N = 18
Loss-framed message, N = 1
Attaining a
Risks an
Risks an
Attaining a
desirable
undesirable
undesirable
desirable
outcome
outcome
outcome
outcome
18
0
1
0
(14 Altruistic)
(1 Altruistic)
(4 Egoistic)
(0 Egoistic)
Neither
34
Of the 53 posters, only 36% (19/53) used framed messages: one used loss-framed messages,
and the other 18 used gain-framed messages. According to the study by Rothman and
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Salovey (Rothman and Salovey, 1997), the gain-framed message is how health promotion
messages should be framed. Gain-framed messages can emphasize benefits caused by some
actions as well as avoidable disadvantages brought about by other actions (Kahneman and
Tversky, 1979). The 18 posters with gain-framed messages all used the benefits of donation
behavior as motivations. For example, one poster used the following text: ―Someday, I will
be lying on the white bed of life. Sometimes, I can continue that fragile respiration. For
somebody, I will be the miracle of his hopelessness. Love and life need your irrigation; life
and love require your ignition. Because of you, him, and me, love continues to disseminate,
and life continues to last.‖ The gain-framed messages in this description included the fact that
organ donation saves lives and implied that if donors die from sickness or aging, their
worldly lives can still be continued (Figure 1). One poster had no text but used a picture to
present a young woman virtually hugging a deceased donor to express appreciation,
demonstrating organ donation can be considered an act of love and showing the gain-framed
message of how love expressed via organ donation could save lives (Figure 2).
Figure 1 Organ donation poster (Taiwan
Figure 2 Organ donation poster (CLM
Organ Registry and Sharing Center, 2013).
BBDO, 2013).
Of the 53 posters, only one poster used loss-framed messages. Its main appeal was to show
the loss resulting from not supporting donation, and the content included a grimacing African
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male waiting for organ donation but who died because he did not obtain the organ in
time-presenting a loss-framed message of painful death (Figure 3). None of the 53 posters
used positive and negative messages at the same time. Studies of hand-hygiene posters have
demonstrated that the presentation of positive and negative messages together may confuse,
rather than motivate, the audience (Jenner et al., 2005). Because posters are distinct from
other media, they must present their main appeal within a short period. Complex information
is not conducive to being briefly read; furthermore, the combined presentation of positive and
negative information might appear pedantic, which is not conducive to cognition. Sixty-four
percent (34/53) of the posters did not use any gain or loss framed messages. Most of the
posters did not use persuasive strategies but only used plain and direct language to instruct
people to support organ donation; for example, one poster depicted photos of smiling people
from various professions and stated ―they all signed donor cards; please sign one too‖ in the
text (Figure 4), without providing strong incentives for the recommended behaviors. Simply
instructing the viewer with messages such as ―sign a donor card‖ is not the most effective
method of influencing a person to action (Jenner et al., 2005). People need to be persuaded to
donate, and this motivation may be accomplished if they are strongly convinced that the
behavior change poses benefits.
Figure 3 Organ donation poster (NHS
Figure 4 Organ donation poster (American
Blood and Transplant, 2013).
Hospital Association, 2013).
Of the 18 posters with gain-framed messages, 14 posters used ―altruistic‖ gain-framed
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messages (including selfless dedication, spreading love, continuation of life, understanding of
happiness, rebirth, and vitality), which emphasized public welfare and charitable behavior.
The other four posters emphasized ―egoistic‖ gain-framed messages, which implied that
organ donation makes the donor a hero. For example, one poster depicted a young man lying
in a pool of blood, and his dying posture resembled a superman flying peacefully (Figure 5).
The message-framed theory is based on the fact that people choose egoistic behaviors to
obtain maximum benefits when facing choices; however, the organ procurement posters that
employed framed messages all used altruism as their main appeal, and only a few used
egoistic gain-framed messages. Whether the decision-making behavior of people who agree
to donate organs is the same as egoistic behavior is not clear. Studies have indicated that the
effective use of altruistic strategies combined with compassionate messages (Horton and
Horton, 1991; Kopfman and Smith, 1996; Skumanich and Kintsfather, 1996) can inspire
people’s potential willingness to donate organs; therefore, behavioral incentives that
emphasize both altruism and egoism are feasible options for increasing the level of
persuasion.
Figure 5 Organ donation posters (France ADOT, 2013).
In summary, the percentage of organ procurement posters that utilize framed messages is not
high; thus, it is recommended that framed messages, especially gain-framed messages, be
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adopted more often to heighten the posters’ persuasive powers. Providing negative and
positive information combined should be avoided, as this may overtax the reader. The
information content should balance egoistic and altruistic incentives in order to be more
persuasive.
Categories
Based on the characteristics of the graphical and textual content in the posters, the analysts
suggested classifying the posters into four categories: instructional, educational, evidential,
and charitable. The gain- or loss-framed messages that were represented by each of the
categories are listed in Table 2.
Table 2 Framing of the messages (N = 53), based on category.
Category
Gain-framed messages
Loss-framed messages
Attaining a
Risks an
Risks an
Attaining
desirable
undesirable
undesirable
a desirable
outcome
outcome
outcome
outcome
Neither
Instructional
6
18
Educational
1
Evidential
6
0
Charitable
5
8
Total (N = 53)
18
1
1
8
34
Category 1: instructional
The instructional posters simply requested the viewer to agree to organ donation and sign a
donor card. Twenty-four (24/53 = 45%) posters belonged to this category, of which six
posters used positive messages, and 18 posters did not use framed messages. The difference
between using and not using framed messages in posters of this category was that, in addition
to instructing the viewers to act, the posters used framed messages and provided gain-type
incentives to produce behavior motivations. In addition to using text to suggest that people
sign a donor card and agree to donate their organs, two posters in this category also used
celebrity images to endorse procurement. For example, one poster showed a soccer star
holding a soccer ball stamped with procurement graphics, and the text said, ―Please become
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an organ donor. To sign a donor card, please contact….‖ Celebrity endorsement can reduce
people’s sense of crisis and strengthen the information’s credibility (Soliha and Dharmmesta,
2012); however, it would be more persuasive if the celebrities concurrently employed framed
messages. The instruction of one poster was not to inspire organ donation; instead, it targeted
doctors and asked them to spend more time talking about organ donation to the public and to
their patients. Because doctors are at the front line of medical care, their professional images
are the most appropriate to deliver organ donation information (Figure 6). The posters
targeted doctors as advocates because studies have indicated that health care workers need to
receive education and training regarding organ donation; indeed, a majority of health care
workers do not actively discuss organ donation with their patients, either due to personal
ethical beliefs or because organ procurement is considered a sensitive topic (Chen et al.,
2007).
In summary, it is recommended that organ procurement posters target different populations
and use celebrity endorsements to provide sufficient behavior incentives via framed messages
that persuade the viewer to perform organ donation-related behaviors.
Figure 6 Organ donation poster (Australian Medical Association, 2013).
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Category 2: educational
The educational posters provided relevant information about organ donation. Ten posters
(10/53 = 19%) belonged to this category; only two employed framed messages, with one
using positive information and one using negative information. Of the 10 posters in this
category, six posters used text or graphics to describe organ donation methods and procedures,
provide instructions regarding signing donor cards, explain the definition of brain death,
describe organs in the body that can be donated, and clarify misconceptions regarding organ
donation. Many investigators have reported that most people have positive attitudes about
organ donation but that they lack relevant knowledge and motivation to guide their behavior;
thus, providing relevant information regarding organ donation will increase donation
behaviors (Evans and Manninen, 1988; McIntyre et al., 1987). One poster used a
question-and-answer format to state, ―Whether you agree with organ donation or not, it will
not affect the quality of medical care, and the medical teams will try their best to take care of
the patient to the last moments of life!‖—to dispel the notion that organ donation promotes
poor end-of-life care. The poster also explained that ―all religions support organ donation‖ to
dispel the notion that the whole body must be preserved after death (Figure 7). Therefore,
refutational messages, which presented negative consequences of organ donation
accompanied by factual counterarguments to those consequences, were more effective in
persuading people to complete donor cards (Winkel, 1984). However, this poster did not
provide information about filling out donor cards and did not use framed messages.
Four out of 10 posters in this category provided statistical data explaining the importance of
organ donation, including the number of people waiting for transplantation, the number of
donors per year, and the number of organs each donor could donate. Studies have revealed
that messages that provide statistics commonly present a major premise along with
supporting evidence in the form of empirical statistics and facts presented as a summary of a
larger number of cases; this method efficiently disseminates information (Kotler et al., 1999)
and can explain the demand for organ donation using convincing facts.
In summary, providing relevant organ-donation information (Evans and Manninen, 1988;
McIntyre et al., 1987), increasing the information credibility through statistical data (Kotler et
al., 1999), and providing refutational messages to dispel myths (Winkel, 1984) are all feasible
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strategies to promote organ donation. If framed messages were combined at the same time,
the presentation would be more highly persuasive.
Figure 7 Organ donation poster (Changhua Christian Hospital, 2013).
Category 3: evidential
The evidential posters presented successful organ transplantation cases and stories. Six
posters (6/53 = 11%) belonged to this category, all of which contained framed messages.
Researchers have reported that narrative information influences the sensitive emotions of the
audience, which is helpful for persuasion. Narrative information resembles a story, and
people enjoy listening to stories, especially stories that use actual cases to elicit emotions
(Allen and Preiss, 1997). Consequently, successful organ transplantation stories provide
heart-felt evidence that can be forever internalized by the audience and constantly extracted
from their memories (Kopfman and Smith, 1996). For example, one poster showed a photo
and a quote from a young lady who had successfully received a double-lung transplantation
and who described the medical miracles that she experienced (Figure 8); the other poster
depicted a story about a woman who received a liver transplantation and become a good
friend of the donor’s mother. However, some posters in this category only presented cases
such as a healthy and active baby after heart transplantation, a girl happily playing jump rope
after receiving liver transplantation, and a father joyfully hugging family members after
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receiving kidney transplantation; these posters do not use brief and emotional words to
describe the importance of these narrative stories to trigger emotion.
In summary, a completely expressed narrative story not only contains gain-framed messages
but also can affect the audience’s sensitive emotions, which is helpful for persuasion.
Figure 8 Organ donation poster (The Organ and Tissue Authority, 2013).
Category 4: charitable
The charitable posters attempted to heighten the viewer’s altruistic and moral senses through
different strategies. Thirteen posters (13/53 = 25%) were classified in this category, of which,
five posters used positive information and eight posters did not use framed messages. The
adopted strategies included statements that could heighten morality and benevolence, such as
disseminating great love, helping people become reborn, preventing other families from
breaking apart, and engaging in public welfare that promotes greater empathy in the donor.
One poster even used the environmental protection and recycling concept by saying ―go
green, donate life‖ in its appeal (Figure 9). The charitable posters used altruism as their main
appeal. As aforementioned, this method may increase the power of persuasion if the
information content provides both public welfare motivations and egoistic incentives.
The categorization of the 53 posters and their methods of using framed messages were
summarized. According to above mentioned, the suggested gain-framed messages of organ
procurement are presented in Table 3.
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Figure 9 Organ donation poster (Organ and Tissue Donation Blog, 2013)
Table 3 Feasible suggestions for organ donation messages, derived from analysis of the four
different poster categories.
Category
Suggestions
Instructional 
Designing the poster content for different populations.

Strengthening information credibility via celebrity endorsements.

Using framed messages to provide behavioral incentives to
instruct the audience.
Educational

Increasing organ donation awareness by educating the audience.

Increasing information credibility using statistical data.

Providing refutational messages to dispel myths and increase
donation willingness.

Using framed messages to provide sufficient behavior incentives
to educate the audience.
Evidential

Evidential posters usually already contain gain-framed messages.

In addition to photos, narrative descriptions of successful
transplantation cases should be added.
Charitable

Public welfare motivation and egoistic incentives should be
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provided in combination.
Conclusions
Posters are one of the major forms of media used to promote organ donation. Most posters
plainly and directly emphasize saving lives; however, whether this approach is sufficient to
induce behavior motivation must urgently be reconsidered by design units and advocacy
institutions. Some of the posters employed effective strategies, such as celebrity
endorsements, statistical data, refutation of myths, successful transplantation cases and stories,
and public welfare appeals. If these techniques are combined with message framing and if the
persuasive power of the posters is clinically studied, then the persuasive power might be
strengthened and the willingness of individuals to sign organ-donation consent cards might
increase.
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